Kearns, an oil trader who earned about $500,000 a year, sued Glencore seeking the shares, worth at least $1.2m, after he was fired for missing important meetings because of what the company said were alcohol problems. Kearns is still suing for wrongful dismissal, which would result in a smaller amount in damages.

'He is a married man with three children and his reputation is on the line', Ahmed Miah, Kearns’s lawyer, said in court. 'What is said about him by Glencore is entirely wrong, unreasonable and untrue'.

Kearns said in court documents he didn’t have an alcohol problem and was singled out because he disagreed with managers. He’s the latest banker to use London’s courts to try to recover lost pay after a victory by more than 100 former Dresdner Kleinwort bankers against Commerzbank.

Ian Bolland

A journalism graduate of Liverpool John Moores University. During his time at university, Ian spent time on work experience at local newspapers in Liverpool, Bolton and Wigan, and prior to that he did work for The Observer's 'fans verdict'. Ian also has interests in news, current affairs and business but mostly sport, including football, rugby league, cricket, golf and Formula 1, amongst others.